Solar irrigation improves horticulture farming

Jun 28, 2017

Ulyampiti, SINGIDA Ulyampiti Village has been experiencing significant impacts of climate change for quite sometime. The overdependence on rain-fed agriculture by farmers and livestock keepers have made them particularly vulnerable to increased frequency and duration of droughts as well as changes in the rain pattern.

It is on this basis that in 2015/2016, the UNDP in collaboration with the Singida Regional Administration and the Tanzania Vulnerable Lighter (TVL) implemented a solar pump project in Ulyampiti village. This project aimed at facilitating access to underground water for various community uses including horticulture irrigation farming for producing vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, spinach, ‘chinese’ cabbage, onions and sweet pepper.

The project facilitated the drilling of a borehole at Songoroji hamlet with a capacity of producing 18,000 L/hr and rehabilitation of another one at Kiruma hamlet.

Beneficiaries’ testimonies

Evidence from the field revealed that a total of 23 (11 females and 12 males) villagers from the Kwendi Song’e (meaning let’s go together) group, which was registered in 2016,benefitted directly from this project. Benefits included training on climatesmart agriculture, value addition and the establishment of horticulture pilot plots. In addition 4,000 other people also benefitted indirectly as consumers of the vegetables produced by the project. Ms.TatuYusuph, a project beneficiary noted gratefully

Previously, we were sharing small shallow wells with livestock. But now we have access to safe and clean water for household and non-household uses such as irrigation of our vegetable gardens thereby expanding our revenue base through sale of vegetable to our people and nearby villages

getting vegetables in this village was a nightmare. We had to travel to the district headquarters paying TZS 2000 (equivalent to 0.9USD) for a bus fare alone to buy vegetables at a higher price. We used to buy five tomatoes for TZS 500 (equivalent to 0.2 USD), but from our own garden, we get fresh and enough vegetables to satisfy entire households and at a lower price

Based on the focus and impacts this project compliments SDG 2 (Zero hunger) and FYDP 2016/17-2020/21 with.